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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffBenign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common causes of vertigo — the sudden sensation that you're spinning or that your head is spinning inside.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is characterized by brief episodes of mild to intense dizziness. Symptoms of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo are triggered by specific changes in the position of your head, such as tipping your head up or down, and by lying down, turning over or sitting up in bed. You may also feel out of balance when standing or walking.
Although benign paroxysmal positional vertigo can be a bothersome problem, it's rarely serious except when it increases the chance of falls. You can receive effective treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo during a doctor's office visit.
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Vestibular Disorders Association. http://www.vestibular.org/vestibular-disorders/specific-disorders/bppv.php. Accessed April 7, 2010.
- Barton J. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 7, 2010.
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec08/ch086/ch086c.html. Accessed April 7, 2010.
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). American Hearing Association. http://www.american-hearing.org/disorders/benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigobppv/. Accessed April 7, 2010.
- Fife TD, et al. Practice parameter: Therapies for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (an evidence-based review). American Academy of Neurology. http://www.aan.com/practice/guideline/uploads/351.pdf. Accessed April 7, 2010.
- Shephard NT (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 9, 2010.
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